Sports
03 Mar, 2026
Stranded Sindhu set to miss All England Championships; Lakshya and others set for stiff fight
Business Aajkal, Bengaluru, 03 March 2026: Two-time Olympic medallist P. V. Sindhu is set to miss the prestigious All England Open Badminton Championships, which begins on Tuesday, after being stranded in Dubai due to escalating tensions in the Gulf region.
What Happened?
- Sindhu has been stuck in Dubai since Saturday.
- Flights were suspended following US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliation.
- Airspace closures across parts of the Gulf severely disrupted travel.
Sindhu and her team, including Indonesian coach
Irwansyah Adi Pratama, reportedly had a narrow escape after an explosion occurred near their place of stay. They were later moved to a secure location as regional tensions intensified.
Impact on Tournament Build-Up
The All England Championships — one of badminton’s most prestigious Super 1000 events — has seen travel plans disrupted for several players due to the crisis.
For Sindhu, the forced withdrawal is a significant setback, given the tournament’s importance in the global calendar and its historic prestige.